Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40399882›Full record

ArticleJournal of translational medicine2025

Unveiling the hidden dance: SPP1 + macrophages identified in ulcerative colitis reveal crosstalk with CHI3L1 + fibroblasts.

Peiwen Zhou, Tongyu Tang, Pingwei Zhao, Quan Wang, Xintong Hu, Junzhuo Si, Tianshi Yang, Shuai Zhou, Wenyan An, Yanfang Jiang

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of translational medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  4. SPP1Cell death & disease · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Peiwen ZhouGenetic Diagnosis Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
Tongyu TangDepartment of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
Pingwei ZhaoDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
Quan WangDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
Xintong HuGenetic Diagnosis Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
Junzhuo SiGenetic Diagnosis Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
Tianshi YangGenetic Diagnosis Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
Shuai ZhouGenetic Diagnosis Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
Wenyan AnGenetic Diagnosis Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
Yanfang JiangGenetic Diagnosis Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China. yanfangjiang@hotmail.com.ORCID 0000-0002-2478-1521

Funding

Jilin Office of Philosophy and Social Science 20200901025SFJilin Office of Philosophy and Social Science JLSWSRCZX2020-009the Beijing Medical Award Foundation YXJL-2021-1097-0645the Jilin Province Science and Technology Agency 20200403084SFthe Jilin Province Science and Technology Agency 2023C013the Jilin Province Science and Technology Agency JJKH20211164KJthe Jilin Province Science and Technology Agency JJKH20211210KJthe National Natural Science Foundation of China 22174137
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUlcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by persistent inflammation of the colon. The specific cause of UC is still not fully understood, but this condition is believed to arise from a combination of environmental, genetic, microbial, and immune factors. This study aimed to explore the specific roles of macrophages and fibroblasts in UC pathogenesis, focusing on their interactions and contributions to disease progression.

methodsWe utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze macrophages and fibroblasts in peripheral blood and colon biopsy samples from UC patients. Bulk RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomic data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and flow cytometry and multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) data were used for validation. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the correlation between cell abundance and disease severity.

resultsMacrophages and fibroblasts were identified as key communication hubs in UC; specifically, SPP1 + macrophages and CHI3L1 + fibroblasts were significantly enriched at the sites of inflammation. These cells are strongly correlated with disease severity and orchestrate inflammatory responses within the intestinal immune microenvironment, contributing to UC-associated colorectal cancer.

conclusionsOur study identified SPP1 + macrophages and CHI3L1 + fibroblasts as key contributors to UC pathogenesis. These cells are enriched in inflammatory sites, are correlated with disease severity, and play a role in UC-associated colorectal cancer, providing new insights into UC mechanisms.

Indexed as

Cell CommunicationColitis, UlcerativeFibroblastsMacrophagesOsteopontinFemaleHumansInflammationMaleOsteopontinSPP1 protein, humanCHI3L1 + fibroblastsRegulatory networksscRNA-seqSPP1 + macrophagesUlcerative colitis

Identifiers

PMID40399882
PMCPMC12093798

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.